Bennett’s Relic Rendezvous – June 10-12, 2011- A review by Cliff Jackson

When my friend Jim Bennett told me he was planning an artifact party, I booked my flight right away. I knew it was an event not to be missed, and I was not disappointed. Great relics, a fantastic live/online auction, delectable food and beverages, and a huge group of collectors from all over, were all down on Bennett’s Berry Farm near the bustling Amish crossroads of Polk Ohio. I’d like to relate my personal account of my trip to Polk, which will be pleasant memories for me for the rest of my life.
        Leaving my home in Warren County NC at dawn on Thursday, I started at Raleigh-Durham airport on time but soon that schedule was ruined with delays and changes, with my Detroit layover being changed to Atlanta (flying southwest to go northwest?). After several hours in Atlanta, my final plane touched down five hours late in Canton/Akron, where Jim Bennett and his friend Dan were waiting to drive me the last hour to the farm. Bennett’s Farm is a family berry operation, an old Amish farm centering on the original 1850’s house and barn, all remodeled by Jim. I got several tours of the Amish farm countryside of Ashland County, which is rolling farmland covered in truck farms, hay fields, and dairies. I saw more Amish at work in the fields and on the roads in their horse-drawn wagons than in any other place I’ve traveled. The Polk “downtown” has plenty of hitching post room in the town parking lot, and is a treasure of American heritage- a true picture of the lifestyle of rural archaic farm life. (No, Jim Bennett isn’t Amish, and has no beard or black hat- but he is known to go barefooted as any country boy!)
After getting settled in my room, which Jim’s youngest daughter Hannah graciously gave up to me, I was treated to refreshments and local food at the local Irish pub in Ashland. Jim is a great host, and he, Dan and I enjoyed talk and Keno games (which we don’t have in NC.) After all the stress of travel, I really slept well that night.
Friday morning was setup day for the big party, and we worked to get the parking lots roped off in the berry fields while the tent crews erected the large hexagonal tents to form one huge “big top”. Jim’s neighbors began slow-cooking hams that night over hickory coals, a process that filled the air with savory smells by dawn on Saturday. Friday night also was setup for the Saturday auction of hundreds of fine artifacts, many from the collection of Everett Cull of Mercer County Ohio. As collectors descended on the farm excellent relics came out, and the sense of anticipation was high, all while dining on hotdogs that I grilled. Campers pulled out their food and drink and the campfire warmed off the chill until late night into early morning.
            Saturday- Auction Day- The air was fragrant with the smells of the pork finishing on the coals. By 9 am the tent was full of bidders examining the artifacts. Having not previously attended a Bennett auction, I was impressed by the smooth process and the healthy interaction of bids from both the floor and from internet and phone bidders. Artifacts were bringing very good prices as many advanced collectors were on the floor. I had the chance to meet Lynn Munger, one of only three collectors from the Who’s Who #1 still around, and several other collectors whose artifacts I had only before seen in books. I counted over 200 guests under the tent around noon. Adventurer Art Gerber provided a fun and entertaining slide show for a large crowd, which brought many laughs and oohhs and aahhs over the artifacts. All day long there were demonstrations by expert flintknappers as well as an atlatl range for all to try their hand at launching spears at the target. After the auction, we broke down the setup as people consumed large amounts of delicious grilled turkey, with some-mores over the fire. The Jim Miller Band of Ohio played the night away with their own unique style of rock and blues.  The night (early morning!) ended with toasts to “Bennett’s” and a grand day.
            Sunday- Bright and early, the parking lot began to fill, with displays from all over the world set up. The Fuert Site Ohio collection collection covered an entire block of tables, and was interesting to study. Many regional collectors showed off some fine relics, and locals brought in artifacts for identification. Rick Schwardt of Florida spend the day discussing the nice Southern materials in his collection, and Gary and Joanne Fogelman taught the use of the atlatl to young and old during the entire day. I had the chance, and took it, to accompany a photographer in a very small plane over the Bennett Farm, while he took video and pictures, and was very impressed by the orderly beauty of the vast plowed fields and white farmhouses and barns. This part of Ohio is indeed very beautiful, even more so from the air.
            As the campground cleared on Sunday afternoon and the collections were packed up, the last of the turkey enjoyed, the Rendezvous was winding down. Several guests took off for a local farm that they got permission to explore, and the rest left with hugs, handshakes and smiles and the memory of an exceptional meeting of collectors. The sun set rosy on the Bennett Farm Rendezvous.
 I was staying over yet another day though, so I got to sample some real Italian pizza in Ashland while discussing American history with Chase Pipes and Jim Bennett at the Pub. We exchanged deep thoughts and favorite books while the rest of the pub cheered over the NBA final game. I guess in today’s world there’s a lot more public interest in high-paid sports than in our own history. After a good night’s sleep, Chase, Jim and I checked out a newly tiled farm field down the road (no luck), then went to some fields at a local dairy farm that had a site. The silage corn was just emerging, so with good visibility we were able to find several broken points, the poll end of a celt, and a few cores of Coshocton. Jim had the best find, with a Coshocton hafted scraper. I was very happy with half of a Flint Ridge Archaic point, heavily ground in the base- my first Ohio find ever, in over 45 years of picking up arrowheads. It was a refreshing time.
I then traveled ten minutes to visit collector Bob Bright, and was treated to a fine collection of Ohio Indian artifacts. I was able to pry a few from Bob too! After seeing Chase off, I wandered the farm, relaxed, picked up some litter, and breathed my last few hours of Ohio air before hitting the big cities of Canton/Akron on my way through Detroit, Michigan, on my way to Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. Exhausted and sore, I jumped in my wife’s car and headed north towards my own quiet paradise here at Hamme’s Mill. The memories of this adventure to Bennett’s Farm outside of Polk, Ohio will stay with me forever, (particularly since I’ve now written down all of the printable parts, haha). When Jim decides on a date for the next one, I’ll be booking my flight ASAP!